And that has nothing to do with the fact that the Patriots represent the offensive tackle’s third NFL team in a career that’s also included a stop in Frankfurt, Germany, seven years ago to play for the Galaxy in the now-defunct NFL Europe.

Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Svitek was only 2 years old when his parents, Milan and Eva, rounded up their four boys – Will and his brothers Tomas, Ivan and Andrew – and led them on a 14-hour hike through the mountains to freedom.

“I was born in 1982 in the Communist regime,” Svitek reflected following Tuesday’s training camp practice on the fields behind Gillette Stadium. “I had three older brothers and my parents decided that they didn’t want their four children to grow up in a Communist regime. They wanted us to realize our fullest potential.

“So basically it was kind of like my dad’s dream to escape out of Czechoslovakia. We hiked over the mountains over to Austria where we stayed in a refugee camp for about eight months until we got legalized to come to the United States. My dad’s vision was to achieve the American Dream.

“It was basically like ‘The Sound of Music,’” said Svitek. “We left with the clothes on our back and hiked over the mountains.”

The Svitek family’s game plan included a series of handoffs involving young Will.

“I was the youngest of four boys,” he said. “So my dad and my brothers took turns carrying me. I was little.

“I was a little 2-year-old. It’s hard to imagine now,” the 6-foot-6, 310-pounder said, “but my younger brothers were older. They told my brothers we were on a military hike to keep them quiet. It was like a game, but you couldn’t talk.”

From that so-called “game,” an NFL player was born.

A three-sport athlete at California’s Newbury Park High School, Svitek went on to become a defensive end at Stanford University talented enough to suit up in the East-West Shrine Game.

Selected by Kansas City in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Svitek made the conversion to the offensive line, where he remains eight years later.

“I was a defensive lineman and spoke to some scouts and they basically thought that my fullest potential would be to play in the offensive line in the NFL,” said Svitek. “It was kind of foreign to me. It was definitely a risk, but I went into it full gear.

“I was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and the first day they moved me to left tackle. There (were) definitely some growing pains. It’s hard enough to make this transition (from college to the pros), let alone from the defensive line to the offensive line. But it’s a learning thing and I’m still learning here in year nine. It’s been a good learning experience, though.”

Page 2 of 2 - Through it all, Svitek has continued to apply the lessons he learned from parents adamant enough in their beliefs to flee their native land in search of a better life.

“I’m very grateful,” said Svitek. “Obviously, my parents taught me a lot about work ethic and dedication and not taking things for granted and I always think back to that. So I’m grateful for my opportunities I have here and I always want to make them proud and fulfill my fullest potential because that’s kind of the sacrifices they made.”

Released by the Chiefs in 2008, Svitek moved on to Atlanta, where he developed to the point that he started 10 games at left tackle in 2011. After spending all of last season on the injured reserve list with a torn triceps, Svitek signed with the Patriots on March 18 and, while he may not be viewed as a threat to starters Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer, he is seen as a potential swing tackle here.

As much as he’s moved on the field, Svitek has continued to move off it, traveling the world.

“This is my ninth NFL season so I made a point once I got to the NFL, every offseason right after the season I always travel,” said Svitek. “Take a month and rest my body and just travel all over the world. I’ve been all over Europe, to Egypt, Brazil, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Italy.”

Svitek has returned to his native land on three occasions, taking advantage of the experience of a family that knew when it was time to get out.

“They were my tour guides,” said Svitek. “They lived in Czechoslovakia for 40 years so they were the best tour guides you can imagine.”